One embodiment provides for monotonic transactions in a multi-master database with loosely coupled nodes including performing, by a processor, a read transaction protocol including: performing, by the processor, a read transaction protocol including issuing read transactions at any one of the nodes; attempting to return rows that are known to be replicated by at least a read quorum of the nodes; and for timing-out of the attempting to return rows known to be replicated by at least the read quorum of the nodes based on the special-node being non-responsive: selecting a new special-node from the nodes; and repeating attempting to return rows that are known to be replicated by at least the read quorum of the nodes.